American Dream Series

Our interviewee today is Dennis Diaz, originally from Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, who came to the United States when he was nine years old. How was that change for you? “The truth is that it was difficult, because my family was separated for a while. My father came first to work at a tobacco company….

Our interviewee for this issue is Laura Battisti, originally from Milan, Italy, currently a high-school teacher at Newtown High School. Where did you grow up? I grew up in Milan, in the northern part of Italy, though from the age of six to twelve, I lived in Geneva, Switzerland. My father was working there for…

Our interviewee today is a 23-year-old girl, and her name is Jessica Ruiz. What’s your story? “My story is very long, with many ups and downs despite my young age, but I’ve discovered over the years that all the things that happen to us in life are to move us in the right direction.” What…

Our interviewee for this issue is Vera Bourjeili, originally from Beirut, Lebanon. Tell me your story as an immigrant. I came from Lebanon about twenty-five years ago. My husband immigrated in 1993 to be with his family in the USA, who had immigrated a few years earlier. We had been engaged for about a year,…

The fourth annual American Dream Awards Gala, hosted by Tribuna Newspaper and The New American Dream Foundation, Inc. (TNADF), a 501(c)(3) organization, was held on Saturday, September 16, at the Amber Room Colonnade, with nearly 400 guests and award winners in attendance. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton and TNADF’s Vice-President, Emanuela Palmares, were the co-masters of…

Our interviewee today is Víctor Rodríguez, who was born in New York to Puerto Rican parents. Tell me, what was the reason your parents moved from paradise to the Big Apple? “Puerto Rico is a beautiful island that has incredible natural wealth and people with an unbreakable spirit. It is almost impossible to describe their…

Tribuna Newspaper and The New American Dream Foundation Inc. (TNADF), a 501(c)(3) organization, will host their 4th Annual American Dream Awards Gala on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 6:00 PM at the Amber Room Colonnade in Danbury. In 2014, in celebration of its 15th Anniversary, Tribuna created the American Dream Awards Gala, an annual awards…

Our interviewee today is Felipe Peláez. He was born and lived in the Republic of Colombia, specifically in the city of Medellín, Department of Antioquia. “Tell me Felipe, how did you decide to come to this country?” “The main reason was my eldest daughter. I was divorced and her mother decided to move from Colombia…

In this issue, our interviewee for the American Dream profile is the financial advisor, Claudio Martins, who shares with us his personal journey to the United States. In 1980, Martins made a decision that changed his life forever: he left the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and moved to New Jersey. He stayed at his…

Our interviewee today is Nadia Gerwell. She was born in Bronx, New York, surrounded by a colorful multicultural exchange, but then moved to Stamford in 1994. Her parents speak Spanish and that is why she is completely bilingual. I asked her to tell me a little about her parents: “My parents are from Ecuador. They…

In this issue, our interviewee for the American Dream profile is the psychologist Claudia Brandão Braz, a licensed marriage and family therapist. She shares a little bit of her journey in the United States, and her challenges, and reveals that among the many life lessons she carries with her, one is that amid great storms,…

Western Connecticut State University seniors Evelin Garcia and Madiha Khan were chosen as winners of this year’s Henry Barnard Distinguished Student Award for their determination, demonstrated leadership, academic success and contributions to the community. Twelve Barnard Awards are given annually to distinguished students from Western, Central, Eastern and Southern Connecticut state universities. Khan and Garcia,…

Our interviewee today is Walter Suin Chin who, like many, is an immigrant in Danbury. I asked him the origin of his surname and he explained: “More than a century ago, many Chinese immigrated to Ecuador fleeing hunger and poverty, and searching for a better future. Now a century later, the desire for improvement motivated…

In this issue of Tribuna, we are pleased to share with you the story of Michelli Anatolio. Born in Brazil, in the small town of Balsamo, Sao Paulo, she saw her life change completely when she moved to the United States with her parents and younger sister 10 years ago. At that time, Anatolio was…

In these times of distress and uncertainty about the future, Tribuna Newspaper has decided to dedicate space to share the stories of those who make their lives an act of solidarity and compassion towards their neighbors. In this issue, our American Dream Series interviewee is entrepreneur and Ecuadorian Civic Center of Danbury President, Wilson Hernandez….

Our interviewee today was born in the United States but her roots are Latin. Her father was born in Italy, but moved to Venezuela when he was 15 years old. What motivated your father’s family to move to Venezuela? “At that time, in the 1940s, South American countries like Venezuela opened their doors to these…

For Talline, the United States represents her home and a place where she can be anything she wants to be as long as she is willing to pursue it. Talline Carvalho, a Brazilian business owner in the insurance industry, is Tribuna’s interviewee for the American Dream profile in this issue. Born in Criciuma, Santa…

Our interviewee today was born in Virginia but raised in Connecticut, and her parents are Cubans. She is a person with an extremely contagious enthusiasm for life. I asked how her parents left Cuba and she replied: “They left Cuba on December 31, 1961, with the excuse of traveling for vacation. The entire family was…

In this issue, our guest interviewed for the American Dream profile is the Brazilian esthetician Daniella Assis, owner of Urban Spa. She shares her life story in the United States, remarkable moments along her journey and how her American Dream became reality. Born and raised in Ipatinga, in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil,…

In this issue, our guest interviewed for the American Dream profile is Pastor Silvani DaSilva of the Assembly of God Church in Danbury. He shares a little bit of his journey in the United States, the challenges and the love and admiration he has for the country that has embraced him. Born in a small…

Our interviewee today is an educated, enterprising and very honest young man named Julián Pacheco. He was born in Bridgeport, CT, but his parents are originally from Luquillo, Puerto Rico, which is why he considers himself Boricuan. Tell me about your family. With a very soft tone of voice, he replied, “Well, my family is…

TRIBUNA NEWSPAPER- Mr. Sanchez, please tell us about your life journey and why you decided to come to the United States. DAVID SANCHEZ RESENDIZ – I am originally from Mexico and I came to this country in 1986, when I was 18 years old. I was living in Arizona where both of my older brothers…

In a world where most people are disgusted or sad, some for good reason and others by choice, meeting someone with a jovial temper does not happen very often. Our interviewee is a young woman who was born in Ecuador, in Macas city, which is the capital of the province of Morona Santiago. Her name…

I would like to share with you the story of the artist Veronica Martins. She recalls her simple beginnings, the transition to an unknown country and how her love for the artistic profession has helped her overcome obstacles and move forward. Tribuna Newspaper – Veronica, to start, tell us a little bit about your personal…

Our interviewee is a young woman born in the United States, whose parents are Puerto Rican. They came to this country as teenagers, grew up in Bronx, New York, where they met, married and conceived this young woman, whose vivacious eyes seem to speak for her. Jazmín Lopez defines herself as “Newyorkrican,” a term that is, according to her, used by those whose origins are from the “Island of Enchantment” but who live in New…

Our interviewee is a young woman born in the United States, whose parents are Puerto Rican. They came to this country as teenagers, grew up in Bronx, New York, where they met, married and conceived this young woman, whose vivacious eyes seem to speak for her. Jazmín Lopez defines herself as “Newyorkrican,” a term that…

Our interviewee was born in the United States, but his parents are originally from the State of Sonora in the Republic of Mexico. Like the State of Sonora, his life has been marked by being at the border of two cultures. His parents came to this country in 1993, hoping to start a family in an atmosphere of prosperity, security and…

The United States is perhaps the country with the largest Hispanic community in the world. Mexicans, due to geographical and economic factors, are the largest Hispanic group. By welcoming its workforce, the doors to their cuisine, music and traditions are also opened. Our interviewee was born in Mexico City, but came to the United States when she was only 18 years old in search of her American dream….

What defines our nationality? Is it where we are born or where we grow up? For some, our legal status is the place where we are born but sentimentally, it’s where we grow up. However, our interviewee today is living proof of the convergence of these two definitions. Abel Torres explained: “Even though I was born in the U.S., when I was one month old, my parents moved to the Dominican Republic because that was…

Being an immigrant is difficult for many reasons. The most common reason is the cultural differences between the country where one is born and the country where one chooses to live. So to find a young man who has managed to coexist between two cultures, I can say that young immigrants leave their mark on the development of this beautiful country. Our interviewee was born in Bello Horizonte, Minas Gerais,…

The adventure of parenting leads us to make decisions on behalf of our children, sometimes painful, but in the end successful. Our interviewee was born in Ecuador and lived in the city of Cuenca, the capital of Azuay province. This is such a beautiful city that in 1999 it was named by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. However, like most Latin American countries, this country is not…

Children are an extension of our own life and we always want their lives to be better than ours. Our interviewee is 22 years old, born in Mexico. Jovanna arrived in Danbury, thanks to her parents, when she was only 8 years old. She is deeply proud of her family, her achievements and her Hispanic…

Who dreams of a job where you are paid for doing what you love? I believe absolutely everyone dreams of this! Our interviewee is one of those lucky people. She was born and lived in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, until 2004, when she decided to come to the United States looking…

Is it our origin that defines our dreams? We assume that everyone is different and unique. However, after hearing about a person’s dream, we find a similitude in what we have lived and the importance of everything that we have done to achieve our dream. Our interviewee, Monica Mollengarden, is originally from a village called…